Contribuciones para el aprendizaje de las Ciencias de la Tierra, desde un espacio de educación no formal

El presente trabajo da a conocer una serie de actividades planificadas y realizadas desde un espacio de Educación no formal como es el Museo de Ciencias Naturales y Antropológicas "Prof. Antonio Serrano", en la Ciudad de Paraná Entre Ríos, con el objetivo de promover el conocimiento de las Ciencias de la Tierra. Las mismas son proyectadas con el fin de contribuir a acortar la distancia existente entre el conocimiento geológico producido por los científicos y el conocimiento de la sociedad. Se clasifican en cuatro ejes interrelacionados entre sí; el eje Investigación y sus productos, agrupa acciones destinadas a la producción del conocimiento geológico provincial y su sociabilización, publicadas en revistas, libros, jornadas y congresos; el eje didáctico presenta actividades relacionadas con la enseñanza de las Ciencias de la Tierra, efectuando trabajos interdisciplinarios entre el Museo y las instituciones educativas; el eje académico y de extensión concentra tareas de capacitación y extensión con entidades culturales y educativas; por último el eje infraestructura destinado a fomentar la creación de espacios dinámicos, dentro y fuera ámbito del Museo. Evaluadores externos e internos, nos motivan a generar acciones de mejora continua, dirigidas a mantener la calidad en los distintos ejes, como también a proyectar nuevas propuestas. La creciente demanda de las actividades didácticas, reflejan que los objetivos planteados están siendo alcanzados y en algunos casos superados; respondiendo así el Museo Serrano a las necesidades de la comunidad.Trabajos del área Ciencias NaturalesDepartamento de Ciencias Exactas y Naturale

Pasado, presente y futuro de la vacunación anti-idiotipo

Cancer vaccines are conceived as therapeutic tools, in contrast to the prophylactic vaccines used to fight against infectious diseases. Among the most potent therapeutic vaccines, anti-idiotype vaccination is directed against the tumor idiotype, the only well-characterized tumor antigen displayed in neoplastic B-cells. Anti-idiotype vaccines have demonstrated clinical benefit against follicular lymphoma and are currently being evaluated in two different phase III clinical trials. Additional emerging strategies, which include the use of dendritic cells and the production of vaccines via molecular means will surely allow us to draw important conclusions concerning the treatment of cancer patients

The mediation of social influences on smoking cessation and awareness of the early signs of lung cancer

Background Whilst there has been no clear consensus on the potential for earlier diagnosis of lung cancer, recent research has suggested that the time between symptom onset and consultation can be long enough to plausibly affect prognosis. In this article, we present findings from a qualitative study involving in-depth interviews with patients who had been diagnosed with lung cancer (n = 11), and people who were at heightened risk of developing the disease (n = 14). Methods A grounded theory methodology was drawn upon to conduct thematic and narrative based approaches to analysis. Results The paper focuses on three main themes which emerged from the study: i) fatalism and resignation in pathways to help-seeking and the process of diagnosis; ii) Awareness of smoking risk and response to cessation information and advice. iii) The role of social and other networks on help-seeking. Key findings included: poor awareness among participants of the symptoms of lung cancer; ambivalence about the dangers of smoking; the perception of lung cancer as part of a homogenisation of multiple illnesses; close social networks as a key trigger in help-seeking. Conclusions We suggest that future smoking cessation and lung cancer awareness campaigns could usefully capitalise on the influence of close social networks, and would benefit from taking a ‘softer’ approach

Implementing dedicated education units in 6 European undergraduate nursing and midwifery students clinical placements

2-s2.0-85104258084Background: Undergraduate students’ clinical experience, working directly with patients and the healthcare team is essential to ensure students acquire the necessary competence for practice. There are differences in the quality of clinical environments and in students’ clinical placement experiences and not all clinical sites are optimal learning environments. The Dedicated Education Unit clinical education model allows students to develop the practical knowledge, skills and professionalism they will need as nurses/midwives. Methods: We employed the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research to identify and compare barriers and facilitators in the implementation of the Dedicated Education Unit in 6 European undergraduate nursing/midwifery student clinical placement settings and to describe the experience of nurses/midwives involved in the Dedicated Education Unit model implementation and evaluation. A pre-post implementation interpretive assessment was based on participants’ responses to the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research construct questions. Results: Although Dedicated Education Unit model implementation in our project was heterogeneous, no main implementation barriers were perceived. Qualitative data showed that educational-service collaboration, including a focus on mutual goals, organizational communication and networking, satisfaction of educational and healthcare professionals, and the establishment of a safe space for professional discussion and feedback, were considered facilitators. Conclusions: This study describes the key elements guiding educational and healthcare stakeholders in Dedicated Education Unit implementation, engaging participants in the entire process, and offering other organizations the opportunity to consider the benefits of this clinical education model. © 2021, The Author(s).2015–1-BE02-KA202–012329 Fundació Catalunya-La PedreraThis research was supported by funding from (1) European EPOS-Erasmus+ program (IDEUs-EU 2015–1-BE02-KA202–012329), (2) Fundació Catalunya-La Pedrera (2018 Talent program) and (3) Barnaclínic (2018 sabbatical fellowship)

Carcinogénesis colónica: proceso de transformación neoplásica

Colorectal cancer is a major health problem, representing the third most frequent cause of death from cancer in both men and women. Clinical trials of new chemotherapeutic agents are ongoing; however, a complete cure for patients with advanced colorectal cancer awaits new targets and strategies. A comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms of colorectal carcinogenesis will be essential to achieve this goal. At the molecular level, activation of oncogenes and inactivation of tumor suppressor genes are processes known to be involved in colorectal carcinogenesis. Additionally, abrogation of mismatch repair systems contributes to some colorectal cancers. Inactivating mutation of the APC gene, or activating mutation of the β-catenin gene, plays an essential role at the beginning of colorectal carcinogenesis, whereas p53 alterations are implicated at adenomacarcinoma transition. Other genes such as K-ras and tumor-suppressor genes on chromosome 18q (DCC, DPC4) have also been reported to be involved in the adenoma carcinoma sequence. Furthermore, changes in the DNA mismatch repair genes have been identified (hMSH2, hMLH1, hPMS1, hPMS2, GTBP/p160 and hMSH3). These mutations induce replication errors in di-nucleotide and tri-nucleotide microsatellites (microsatellite instability). The accumulation of the subsequent gene mutations implies that the colon epithelial cells with mutated genes progress into a neoplasic state.El cáncer colorrectal es uno de los principales problemas de salud, ya que constituye la tercera causa de muerte por cáncer más frecuente tanto en hombres como en mujeres. Aunque se están realizando ensayos clínicos con nuevos agentes terapéuticos, se precisan nuevas dianas y estrategias para aumentar la supervivencia de estos pacientes. Para conseguir este objetivo es imprescindible conocer los mecanismos de la carcinogénesis colorrectal. A nivel molecular, tanto la activación de oncogenes como la inactivación de genes supresores tumorales, son procesos cuya implicación en la carcinogénesis colorrectal es bien conocida. Mutaciones que inactivan el gen supresor APC o mutaciones que activan el gen que codifica β-catenina, juegan un papel esencial en la primeras etapas de la progresión tumoral; mientras que alteraciones en p53 están implicadas en el paso a adenocarcinoma. También están implicados en el desarrollo tumoral otros genes como K-Ras o genes supresores tumorales presentes en el cromosoma 18q (DCC, DPC4). El fallo de los sistemas de reparación de ADN contribuye al desarro- llo de otros tumores de colon (hMSH2, hMLH1, hPMS1, hPMS2, hMSH3 y GTBP/p16). Mutaciones en estos genes inducen errores en la replicación de di y trinucleotidos originando lo que se conoce como inestabilidad de microsatélites. La progresiva acumulación de mutaciones en estos genes origina cambios en las células epiteliales de colon que conducen al desarrollo de un proceso neoplásico

The TNF family member APRIL promotes colorectal tumorigenesis

The tumor necrosis factor (TNF) family member APRIL (A proliferation inducing ligand) is a disease promoter in B-cell malignancies. APRIL has also been associated with a wide range of solid malignancies, including colorectal cancer (CRC). As evidence for a supportive role of APRIL in solid tumor formation was still lacking, we studied the involvement of APRIL in CRC. We observed that ectopic APRIL expression exacerbates the number and size of adenomas in Apc(Min) mice and in a mouse model for colitis-associated colon carcinogenesis. Furthermore, knockdown of APRIL in primary spheroid cultures of colon cancer cells and both mouse and human CRC cell lines reduced tumor clonogenicity and in vivo outgrowth. Taken together, our data therefore indicate that both tumor-derived APRIL and APRIL produced by non-tumor cells is supportive in colorectal tumorigenesis

The TNF family member APRIL promotes colorectal tumorigenesis

The tumor necrosis factor (TNF) family member APRIL (A proliferation inducing ligand) is a disease promoter in B-cell malignancies. APRIL has also been associated with a wide range of solid malignancies, including colorectal cancer (CRC). As evidence for a supportive role of APRIL in solid tumor formation was still lacking, we studied the involvement of APRIL in CRC. We observed that ectopic APRIL expression exacerbates the number and size of adenomas in Apc(Min) mice and in a mouse model for colitis-associated colon carcinogenesis. Furthermore, knockdown of APRIL in primary spheroid cultures of colon cancer cells and both mouse and human CRC cell lines reduced tumor clonogenicity and in vivo outgrowth. Taken together, our data therefore indicate that both tumor-derived APRIL and APRIL produced by non-tumor cells is supportive in colorectal tumorigenesis

Past, present and future of anti-idiotype vaccination

Cancer vaccines are conceived as therapeutic tools, in contrast to the prophylactic vaccines used to fight against infectious diseases. Among the most potent therapeutic vaccines, anti-idiotype vaccination is directed against the tumor idiotype, the only well-characterized tumor antigen displayed in neoplastic B-cells. Anti-idiotype vaccines have demonstrated clinical benefit against follicular lymphoma and are currently being evaluated in two different phase III clinical trials. Additional emerging strategies, which include the use of dendritic cells and the production of vaccines via molecular means will surely allow us to draw important conclusions concerning the treatment of cancer patients